Institutions have to stay within their constitutional boundaries: CJP

CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry says success and efficacy of democratic system depends on an independent judiciary.

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said on Saturday that in a democratic set up, every institution has to recognise and respect its constitutional boundaries and not overstep them through abuse of authority.

Addressing the roll signing ceremony of new Supreme Court lawyers in Lahore on Saturday, the Chief Justice said that the three main organs of the state- the Judiciary, executive and the legislature- can not transcend beyond their constitutional circumference through abuse of authority.

Further, he added that the success and efficacy of a democratic system, inter alia, depended on the independence of Judiciary. He said the judiciary, being a custodian of the Constitution, had been specifically equipped with the power of judicial review to check the arbitrary exercise of power by any authority or institution.

Chief Justice Chaudhry said the Supreme Court being at the apex of judicial hierarchy in Pakistan and as final arbiter of constitutional and legal controversies has endeavoured to bring legal and judicial reformation through prudent interpretation of laws through various landmark judgments and formulation of judicial policies.

The Chief Justice said that the National Judicial Policy, revised from time to time, in consultation with all the stakeholders at national and international level sets out guidelines for the judges and lawyers for prompt and fair dispensation of justice in Pakistan. He said it is now the duty of the lawyers to follow them and facilitate the courts in securing justice at the grass root level.

Chief Justice Chaudhry added that a strengthened and independent judicial system plays assertive and decisive role for the promotion of rule of law which is a basic substance of democracy and necessitates the supremacy of the Constitution, equality before law and equal protection of law. It is the statutory and constitutional responsibility of judiciary to safeguard fundamental rights and restore entitlements to their owners and grant relief to the aggrieved, he added.